WILDER DOESN’T FEEL SO LUCKY
USUALLY when you snatch a draw in the fifth minute of injury time you feel that you’ve had a lucky escape, but frustrated Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder wasn’t feeling fortunate at Fleetwood.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s header deep into time added on gave the Blades a deserved point.
But Wilder was left to ponder why they hadn’t turned their domination into something much more valuable.
“I thought it was going to be one of those days,” said the Blades boss.
“We were the better side in the first-half and we totally dominated the match after the break too.
“It would have been a travesty had we not got something from the game.
“For all our domination in the secondhalf, we couldn’t get the final pass or decisive touch. I always felt we were just one pass off a goal.
“I can’t praise the players highly enough for the way that they stuck at it.
“They put in a big shift and though we are disappointed not to get the win, we’re content, rather than happy, with the point.”
Visitors Sheffield United were first to show but Matt Done’s effort was well saved by Chris Neal.
The Blades’ possession football was easy on the eye but they were living dangerously, with Wilder’s frustration obvious after Fleetwood seized the early advantage. Too many touches around their own penalty area were penalised as they were caught napping in possession.
Chris Long, on loan from Premier League Burnley, saw his initial fizzing effort saved by Simon Moore, but David Ball seized on the rebound to gleefully grab his fifth goal of the season.
Both sides produced open and adventurous football and as the attacks mounted Ball and Kyle Dempsey went close for the home side, whilst John Fleck blazed over for the Blades when well placed.
As Wilder asserted, United totally dominated after the break, restricting the home side to occasional forays forward and some speculative shots.
Their best effort, from the industrious Long, was well saved by Moore.
But, just when it seemed the Blades were to be frustrated by their cutting edge, the game turned, five minutes into injury time.
Chris Hussey provided the precision ball from the left and Ebanks-Landell’s deft header just evaded Neal.
“It was a terrific game of football, “said Fleetwood boss Uwe Rosler.
“We have had a tough week. We didn’t hit the energy levels we normally do and as a result found ourselves on the back foot.
“Sheffield United took over in the second-half. I thought we might nick it but we couldn’t get over the line. We have lost our previous three games so to get a point is a positive, even though we were not at our best.”